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Shall the Santa Cruz City Elementary School District provide funds to continue specific educational programs and services by levying a special assessment for a period of 4 years, beginning 7/1/02, at the rate
of $70 per year for each assessor’s parcel within the Santa Cruz City
Elementary School District, with an exemption for any senior citizen, 65
years or older, who owns and occupies that parcel as his or her principal
place of residence, and shall the Santa Cruz
City Elementary School District implement accountability measures required by
law? |
IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS BY COUNTY COUNSEL MEASURE D If this measure is approved by at least
two-thirds of those voting on it, the Santa Cruz City Elementary School
District will be authorized to levy an annual special tax assessment on real
property. The tax would be imposed
for four years beginning July 1, 2002, at the rate of $70 per year on each
assessor's parcel within the Santa Cruz City High School District. Proceeds of the tax would be used for
library services, counseling services, arts and music programs, and classroom
supplies, as more fully described in the ballot measure. In accordance with State law, the Board of
the School District has approved accountability measures for proceeds of the
tax as follows: the proceeds of the special tax shall be applied only to
those specific purposes identified in the measure; a separate account shall
be created into which the special tax proceeds must be deposited; and an
annual written report shall be made showing the amount of funds collected and
expended from the proceeds of the special tax and the status of any projects
required or authorized to be funded from the proceeds of the special tax. The special tax would be collected in the
same manner as ad valorem property taxes. Property owners who reach the age of 65 on
or before July 1 of each assessment year and meet certain criteria will be
exempt if they apply for exemption each year they are eligible. A "yes" vote is to approve
imposition of the special parcel tax. A "no" vote is against
imposition of the special parcel tax. DANA McRAE, COUNTY COUNSEL By Jane M. Scott, Assistant County Counsel |
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BALLOT MEASURE D FULL TEXT OF MEASURE Elementary School District Special Tax Shall the Elementary School District of the Santa Cruz City Schools provide funds to continue the specific educational programs and services described below by levying a special assessment for a period 4 years, beginning July 1, 2002, at the rate of $70 per year for each assessor’s parcel within the Elementary School District (grades K-8), with an exemption for any beneficial owner of a parcel who has attained the age of 65 on or before July 1 of any assessment year and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and shall the Elementary School District of the Santa Cruz City Schools implement accountability measures in connection with the special assessment as required by law? The following educational programs and services shall be supported by the Elementary District special tax: Library Services: Library staff to support the study of literature at all grade levels. Counseling Services: Resources and staffing for students with academic counseling needs. Arts and Music Program: Staffing and supplies for art and music programs for K-6 students. Classroom Supplies: Classroom supplies for all students. The parcel tax will be imposed at the rate of $70 per year for each assessor’s parcel within the Elementary School District (grades K-8). An exemption from the assessment will be made available to each individual in the District who will attain 65 years of age prior to July 1 of the assessment year, and who owns a beneficial interest in the parcel, and who uses that parcel as his or her principal place of residence, and who applies to the Schools on or before July 1, 2002, or July 1 of any succeeding assessment year. The senior citizen exemption is subject to annual renewal. |
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44-512
VOTER
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND
ARGUMENTS (whichever is applicable to
your ballot) Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors. |
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ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE D
Nothing is more important to the viability,
strength, and success of the Santa Cruz community than top-notch neighborhood
elementary schools with excellent teachers, accessible and well-staffed
libraries, trained guidance counselors, art and music instruction for all
students, and basic classroom supplies. Since
school program funding is based on enrollment, declining enrollment has
already forced Santa Cruz schools to make $3 million in budget cuts in recent
years. Now,
due to anticipated further reductions in enrollment and the expiration of
major foundation support for art and music, our elementary schools are facing
additional cuts in the near future. These new cuts would seriously undermine
the quality of education for every Santa Cruz child. Funding
for instructional materials like paper and basic supplies is already
inadequate. Dedicated teachers are often forced to pay for supplies at their
own expense. Our
elementary schools have been steadily improving their academic standards in
recent years. However, higher standards cannot be achieved if vital programs
continue to be slashed. Passage
of Measure D will generate the funds needed to purchase basic classroom
supplies, preserve art and music programs, maintain school libraries, and
provide academic guidance counseling. Measure D is a four-year investment in our
community’s future that will pay dividends for generations to come. Community
and business leaders citywide support Measure D. At a cost of less than six
dollars a month, this important measure will provide the funds our children
and teachers need to excel. Senior
citizen homeowners can exempt themselves from this assessment. Measure D
funds will be spent efficiently. All expenditures will be monitored by an
independent auditor and an annual public report will account for all
expenditures. Invest
in our kids and our community. Vote YES ON MEASURE D! s/ Fred Keeley, California State Assembly s/
Cynthia Mathews, Non-profit public affairs director; Former Mayor s/ George Ow, Jr., Business & Property
Developer s/
Robert E. Bosso, Attorney and Former Santa Cruz City School Board Member s/
Manuel Pastor, Professor, University California, Santa Cruz |
REBUTTAL
TO ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE D “Falsehood is never so effective as when she baits
her hook with truth.” Such is the
case with arguments in favor of Measure D. School enrollments are down, but ADA per student
spending is up 26% according to California Department of Education. The schools are getting more money even
though they have fewer students. If
“Funding for instructional materials like paper and basic supplies is
already inadequate.” it’s because of spending priorities, not lack of
money. Did you know that out of an
average of almost $6,000 per student per year, less than $200 goes for books
and supplies? Seniors, did you notice the proponents don’t tell you that your exemption
from this measure is subject to filing for it and an annual review. You are guaranteed exempt from this parcel tax only long enough
to get it passed. And, why
would we exclude the Seniors from this “four-year investment in our
community’s future…”? Are the proponents
saying that Seniors don’t care about their community?. What
makes you believe that you can trust anything the proponents say if they
can’t tell you the truth up front.
The fact of the matter is that school districts have become the new
black hole for public spending and they will never have enough money to meet
their needs. In real life one learns
to live within their means. School
districts need to learn to do the same. On March 5, 2002, vote no on Measure D. s/
Vernon C. Bohr Jr., Chairman, Committee Against Measure D – Santa Cruz s/
Carolyn M. Busenhart, Chairman, Committee Opposing Measure D – Santa Cruz |
44-513
VOTER
INFORMATION PAMPHLET
MEASURES, ANALYSES AND
ARGUMENTS (whichever is applicable to
your ballot) Arguments in support of, or in opposition to, the proposed laws are the opinions of the authors. |
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We grow weary of
writing ballot arguments, but
will continue to write them as
long as the
school districts continue to try and tax
the residents of their districts because they think they
can. Whereas they have been unable to get the two thirds
majority vote in the past necessary to pick the public’s pockets, they think they can do so
now if they can trick Seniors into voting for
Measure D believing that they will be exempt from this tax. Seniors, read the
full text of the ballot measure carefully.
It says: “ The Senior citizen exemption is subject
to annual
renewal.” Translation, even if you remember to file for the
exemption the first year, Seniors, there is no guarantee you will get it in
subsequent years. School districts have an insatiable appetite for
money, they will never have enough, and they will do anything to get more
even if it means misleading the voter.
Measure D is really one component of a two component school bond
Measure. Measure D, along with
Measure C, will raise property taxes $98 per parcel per year if you are in
both the elementary and high school districts. And for what? Read the
measure: “Library Services: Library Staff
to support………… “Counseling Services: Resources and staffing…. “Arts and Music Programs: “Staffing and supplies…..” Yes, STAFF, STAFFING, AND MORE STAFFING is the only tangible item that the school
district proposes to fund with your property tax dollars should you vote for
measure D. With
school enrollment down, and our county in a recession, does the school
district really need MORE STAFF? The
answer is no. On
March 5, 2002, vote no on Measure D s/
Carolyn M. Busenhart, Chairman, Committee Opposing Measure D – Santa Cruz s/
Vernon C. Bohr Jr., Chariman, Committee Against Measure D – Santa Cruz |
REBUTTAL
TO ARGUMENT AGAINST MEASURE D
Measure D, like Measure C, requires
approval by 2/3 of district voters. Your vote matters. Together, Measures C and D are critical to
counteract the blow of further budget cuts to Santa Cruz City Schools. Over the
past few years, the district has cut $3 million from its budget – and more
cuts are on the way. With declining revenue from reduced enrollment, and
decreasing state aid from Sacramento, Santa Cruz City Schools face as much as
$3.5 million in additional cuts in the near future. Measures C and D are not about adding new
programs. They are about preserving valuable existing programs and qualified
instructors, and purchasing basic classroom supplies. Measure D protects Santa Cruz elementary
and junior high schools, so that our youngest students receive the education
and opportunities they need from qualified instructors. If Measure D fails,
Santa Cruz elementary and junior high schools stand to lose fully-staffed
libraries, widely-recognized art and music programs, and guidance counselors. We believe the modest cost of $8.17/month
for both measures is a good investment in our children and our community.
Both measures will sunset in four years, when voters will have an opportunity
to renew them. Both measures also offer our senior homeowners the choice to
opt out, simply by signing and returning a form to the school district
annually. (This process ensures accountability.) These past few years have been difficult
for Santa Cruz schools. The next few may be even tougher. Preserve quality
education. Please vote YES on Measures C and D. s/ Cynthia Mathews, Non-profit public
affairs director; Former Mayor s/ George “Bud” Winslow, Former Co. School
Superintendent, Senior Citizen Advocate s/ Joyce M. Gil-Osorio, Teacher, Bayview
Elementary School s/ Pete Newell, Teacher and Coach, Santa
Cruz High School s/ Ziggy Rendler-Bregman, Artist, Parent
and Arts Coordinator, Santa Cruz City Schools |
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